Romeo and Juliet: Act 2, Prologue
[Enter] CHORUS.
1. old: Romeo's former
1 Now old desire doth in his death-bed lie,
2. gapes: longs.
3. fair: beautiful woman.
4. match'd: compared.
5. again: in return, once more.
6. Alike: both lovers equally.
7. complain: i.e., of his love pains.
8. fearful: causing fear, dangerous.
3. fair: beautiful woman.
4. match'd: compared.
5. again: in return, once more.
6. Alike: both lovers equally.
7. complain: i.e., of his love pains.
8. fearful: causing fear, dangerous.
2 And young affection gapes to be his heir;
3 That fair for which love groan'd for and would die,
4 With tender Juliet match'd, is now not fair.
5 Now Romeo is beloved and loves again,
6 Alike betwitchèd by the charm of looks,
7 But to his foe supposed he must complain,
8 And she steal love's sweet bait from fearful hooks:
9 Being held a foe, he may not have access
10. use: are accustomed to using.
10 To breathe such vows as lovers use to swear;
11 And she as much in love, her means much less
12 To meet her new-beloved any where:
13 But passion lends them power, time means, to meet,
14. Tempering . . . sweet: i.e., making up for their extreme difficulties [as lovers] with the extreme sweet [purity of passion].
14 Tempering extremities with extreme sweet.